Machine for splitting sheet material



q 1936 W. D. THOMAS MACHINE FOR SPLITTING SHEET MATERIAL Filed Dec. 51,1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept 8 W36 w. w. THQMAS MACHINE FOR SP LITTINGSHEET MATERIAL Filed Dec. 51, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 l/E/V 70%;

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W. D. THOMAS fi fi MACHINE FOR SPLITTING SHEET MATERIAL Filed Dec. 51,1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Scept 8 11936.

W. D. THOMAS 1 MACHINE FOR SPLITTING SHEET MATERIAL 5 Sheets-Sheet 5Filed Dec; 51, 1934 thereof by Patented Sept. 8, 1936 UNITED STATESMACHINE FOR SPLITTING SHEET MATERIAL William D. Thomas, Lynnfield, Mass,assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Paterson, N. J., acorporation of New Jersey Application December 31, 1934, Serial No.759,846 In Great Britain November 29, 1934 20 Claims.

This invention relates to the splitting of blanks and more particularlyto the splitting of a soleshaped leather blank into an insole and anoutsole.

In the manufacture of shoes of a certain type, it is customary to formfrom a sole-shaped blank an outsole having a projection on its foreparton the flesh side, and a skeleton insole having an opening in itsforepart which is the counterpart of the projection on the outsole. Inorder to accomplish this result, a splitting machine has been usedcomprising a knife and a pair of rolls one of which is provided withamatrix to distort the forepart of the blank. The sole blank is presentedtoe foremost to the rolls with its long axis perpendicular, orsubstantially so, to the bite of the rolls, the matrix roll beingnecessarily of such size that the distance around its periphery is atleast equal to the length of the longest sole blank to be Operated upon,the sole blank being completely split in one revolution of the roll.

In one aspect the invention provides a splitting machine having a matrixroll of comparatively small diameter such that the distance around itsperiphery is less than the length of a blank to be split, means forimparting a plurality of revolutions to said roll for each splittingoperation, and means for causing the matrix to engage the blank duringone revolution only. In the illustrated construction, there are provideda knife, 3. pair of rolls of comparatively small diameter one of whichis a matrix roll. The sole blank is presented obliquely to the bite ofthe rolls, that is, with its long axis at a considerable angle to thebite of the rolls, and a plurality of revolutions, two in theillustrated machine, are imparted to the rolls. Owing to the obliquepresentation of the sole blank, the matrix engages the blank only duringthe first revolution while the blank is being split from one endapproximately to the middle thereof. During the second revolution thesole blank is engaged only by the smooth portions of the rolls and issplit to the other end a out which is parallel to the faces of theblank. With such a construction, rolls of comparatively small diametermay be used, and the edge of the knife may be located close to the biteof the rolls where it performs its function most satisfactorily.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a machine by which themethod may conveniently be practiced;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the machine showing moreparticularly the manner in which the sole blanks are presented obliquelyto the rolls of the splitting mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a detail partly in plan and partly in section showing themounting .of the forepart gages;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line VV of Fig. 3; Fig. 6. is a section onthe line VI--VI of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section of a portion of the machine .on the lineVII-VII of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a perspective of the insole with an opening in its forepartwhich results from splitting a sole blank;

Fig. 9 is a perspective of the outsole with the projection on itsforepart which results from splitting the sole blank;

Fig. 10 is a perspective of the patrix roll with its removable andreplaceable section removed;

Fig. 11 is a perspective of the removable and replaceable section; and

Fig. 12 is a perspective of a modified form of the removable andreplaceable section.

Referring first to Fig. 7, the machine comprises a matrix roll indicatedas a whole at l5, a patrix roll indicated as a whole at H, and a knife31, the sole blanks, one of which is shown at I00, being fed by therolls to the knife. Referring now to Fig. 3, two sole blanks I00 arepresented obliquely at the same time to the splitting mechanism whichsplits the sole blanks each into the two parts shown respectively inFigs. 8 and 9.

Referring to Fig. 1, certain features which are old will first bedescribed. The bearings of the upper or matrix roll are verticallyslidable in bearings in the frame, are urged upwardly at all times bysprings, not shown, and may be moved down to adjust the roll for blanksof different thicknesses by turning a hand-wheel H! which moveshorizontally a slide-bar 2 i, said bar having wedges, not shown, whichcooperate with reversely inclined wedges, also not shown, on thebearings of the ma trix roll. The construction thus far described iswell known and is disclosed in United States Let ters Patent No.1,382,689, granted June 28, 1921, upon an application filed in the nameof William C. Stewart. The matrix roll, like that of the machine of thepatent, comprises a removable and replaceable matrix sleeve 23 havingmatrices 25 formed therein, said sleeve being removably held in place bylocking mechanism in such manner that when the sleeve is unlocked, itmay be slid to the right through the spaces between the spokes of a gear21 and removed from the machine. The shaft 28 (Fig. 2) of the lower orpatrix roll 11, like that of the lower roll of the machine of thepatent, is rotatably mounted in bearings near the middle of twoadjustable levers, one of which is shown at 29, which are swiveled attheir rear ends about two pivots at right angles to each other. Heavysprings 3|, the tension of which may be varied by means of adjustingscrews 33, hold the levers up against adjustable stop screws 35. Thestationary knife 31 (Fig. 7) is mounted on the frame of the machine withits edge just in the rear of the bite of the rolls. No furtherdescription of the construction which has been briefly outlined abovewill be given, reference being made to the patent for details.

When the treadle 39 (Fig. 2) is depressed, the rolls are rotated inopposite directions in such manner as to cause them to make tworevolutions and come to rest. Depressing this treadle throws in aclutch, indicated as a whole at A in Fig. 1, to connect a driving shaftGI with a constantly rotating pulley 33. N0 detailed description of theclutch mechanism will be given since any suitable clutch may beemployed. It will be understood, however, that while the treadle remainsdepressed, the drivingshaft 4| continues to rotate and that when thetreadle is released, a tension spring 45 (Fig. 2) acts when permitted todo so to swing the treadle up about its pivot 41 to push up on thetreadle rod 42, whereupon the driving shaft 4| comes torest.

The treadle 39 is connected by a link 48 with a lever 49 to the free endof which the lower end of the tension spring 95 is fastened; and the hubof the lever 49 is fastened to a rockshaft '5I to which is also fastenedthe hub of a short lever 53 to the free end of which the lower end of anupwardly extending link 55 is pivoted. Consequently, when the treadle 39is depressed, the link 55 is pulled down; and, as long as the link 55 isheld from upward movement, the treadle remains depressed and the clutchis operative to impart rotation to the driving shaft 6 I. The mechanismby which this link 55 is held down to impart two revolutions to therolls I5, I? will be described later. Returning now to Fig. 1, thedriving shaft II has fast to it a small gear 51 which meshes with alarge gear 59, said large gear in turn meshing with a small gear 6| fastto a horizontal shaft upon which is also fast another small gear 53; andthis last-named small gear meshes with the large gear 21 which is fastto the shaft of the lower roll IT. The shaft upon which the small gearsBI, 63 are mounted extends to the left-hand side of the machine, the endof this shaft being indicated in Fig. 2 at 55. Fast to this shaft 65 isa small gear 61 which meshes with a small gear 69, said small gearmeshing also with a large gear II which is fast to the shaft of theupper roll I5. Thus, when the clutch is thrown in to rotate the drivingshaft GI, the rolls I5, I! will be rotated at the same speed and inopposite directions to feed the blanks to the knife.

It has been stated above that two revolutions are imparted to the rollsbefore they are broughtto rest. The mechanism whereby the clutch isthrown out and the rolls brought to rest after two revolutions iscontrolled by the rotation of the upper roll. Referring again to Fig. 2,fast to one end of the shaft of the upper roll is a pinion I3 whichmeshes with a gear 15 of twice its size, said gear having formed on oneface thereof a projecting cam 15 of generally circular outline andhaving a flat surface 11. Cooperating with the cam is a small roller 78at the outer end of the upper arm of a bell-crank lever I9 which ispivoted at 8| and has pivotedto the outer end of its lower arm the upperend of the rod 55 which has been described above as controlling theupward movement of the clutch treadle 39. When new the treadle 39 isdepressed to throw in the clutch, the rod 55 is pulled down, thebell-crank lever 19 is swung down, the clutch is thrown in and the rollsI5, I! start rotating. As the upper roll rotates, the pinion i3 rotateswith it and imparts rotation to the gear I5. By the time the treadle isreleased, the small roller 18 on the upper arm of the bell-crank leverI9 rides on the cylindrical portion of the cam 66 and thus holds thetreadle depressed until the roller 18 again encounters the fiat surfaceif and permits the clutch treadle 39 to rise and throw out the clutch,the construction and arrangement of the parts being such that tworevolutions are thus imparted to the rolls I5, I! whenever the treadle39 is depressed and released.

When sole blanks are presented to the machine (Fig. 7) the lower roll istemporarily pulled down, as shown in that figure, and the forward endsof the blanks are pushed into contact with gages, one of which is shownat 83, which project from the periphery of the matrix roll atpredetermined distances in advance of the leading ends of the matrices,one of which is shown at 85. The gages serve to locate the toe ends ofthe sole blanks at the proper distance from the leading ends of therespective matrices; and the temporary holding down of the lower rollpermits the sole blanks to be presented as shown and causes the knife toenter the blanks properly'when later the rolls start rotating. Thelower. roll is pulled down by the operator at the time he presents theblanks to the machine by depressing a treadle 81 (Fig. 2) and after theblanks have been presented, this treadle is released before the treadle39 is depressed to throw in the clutch. The treadle 81 is pivoted aboutthe same axis 4'! as is the treadle 39 and is pivotally connected by arod 89 to the outer end of an arm 9| the inner end of which has a hubwhich is pinned to a rockshaft 93 mounted in bearings in the frame ofthe machine. On the ends of this shaft beyond the bearings thereof arefastened members 95 (both shown in Fig. 1) having projecting portionsthrough which are threaded the stop screws 35 which engage the outerends of the levers '29 by which the bearings of the lower roll arecarried. Consequently, when the treadle 8'! is depressed, the shaft 93is rocked and the lower roll pulled down, as shown in Fig. 7. A stopscrew'9llimits the upward swinging movement of the arm 9I.

The lower or patrix roll (Figs. 10, 11) is provided with a removablesection so that patrices of different shapes and sizes may be employed.To this end the shaft 99 of this roll has fast to it a sleeve IGIprovided with a cut-out portion to receive interchangeable sections, oneof which is shown in Fig. 11, said sections having formed upon theirperipheries projections or patrices I93. The removable section is heldin place by a springpressed pin I95 having a conical end which enters ahole I91 in a short pinIGQ carried by the section, the hole extendingobliquely outward considered in a direction from the axis of the sectionto the periphery thereof so that, when the conical end of the pin I95 isforced into the hole, the section will be drawn firmly into place. Thelocking pin I95, which is slidable in a bore in the shaft, has its outerend screwed into a small block III slidable in a groove in the shaft andacted upon by a compression spring H3, the blockhaving a projection II Iwhich may be engaged by the thumb of the operator to withdraw theconical end of the pin I95 from the hole I91 in the short pin I99. Fig.12 shows a modified form of removable section in which the patrices areformed by a plurality of pins I I9 which may be riveted or otherwisefastened in place, said pins being arranged as shown to give propercontours to the edges of the patrices. p a

As has been explained, the sole blanks I00 (Fig.

3) are presented two at a time to the rolls of the splitting mechanism.They are not, however, presented with their long axes perpendicular orsubstantially so, to the bite of the rolls but are presented obliquelyas shown. Because of this oblique presentation and the constructionwhereby the rolls are given two revolutions, it is possible to make useof rolls of small diameter and consequently, to locate the edge of theknife close to the bite of the rolls. Assuming that the sole blanks havebeen presented obliquely, that the rolls are of adiameter such thattwice the distance around-the periphery of either one of them isslightly greater than the distance which the longest sole blanks have totravel to be split from end to end, and that two revolutions areimparted to the rolls, the splitting operation will take place asfollows. During the first revolution, the matrices and patrices willengage the sole blanks and, with the knife, will produce the opening inthe insole (Fig.3) and the complementary projection on the outsole (Fig.9). During thesecond'revolution, however, the matrices and patrices willnot engage the blank. Instead, the blank will be engaged by smoothportions of the rolls and will be split through its remaining part by aout which is parallel to the two faces of the blank. There will thusresult the insole and sole shown in Figs. 8 and 9, it being under stoodthat the matrix roll has previously been adjusted into a position abovethe knife such that the resulting sole is thick as compared with theinsole.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 3, the mechanism forfacilitating the proper obliquity of the sole blanks as presented to thesplitting mechanism will be described. Slidably mounted in under-cuthorizontal guideways formed in two stationary parts I2I are the oppositeedges of a plate I23 which maybe removed and replaced at any time, saidplate carrying a guide screw I21 the stem of which extends into a grooveI225 in the right-hand one of the two stationary parts I2 I there beinga locking screw I3I which extends up through a slot in a part of saidstationary member and is threaded into the plate. A stop screw I32 (Fig.8) which is threaded into 2. lug on the plate I23 and abuts a stationarypart of the machine, limits the extent to which the plate may be pushedtoward the splitting mechanism and ensures that the plate may bereplaced in the exact position from which it was previously removed.Mounted for sliding adjustment on the plate I23 toward and from therolls is a supporting bar I33 having an open-ended slot I35 in itsforward end to receive the stem of a guide screw I31 which is threadedinto the plate I23. In line with the slot I35 is a second slot I39 toreceive the stem of the second guide screw I II. Slidably mounted uponthe stem of the slide bar I33 is the rear part gage member M3 having twooppositely extending portions I43 which engage the two sole blanks atabout their heel-breast lines. By referring to Figs. 1 and 6, it will beseen that the gage member Hi3 has a tongue-and-groove sliding connectionwith the slide bar I33. The forepart gages I 35 (Fig. 3) are adjustablycarrried near the forward end of the slide bar I33,in amanner which willbe described later, to provide for sole blanks of different widths. Inorder to facilitate the proper presentation of sole blanks of differentsizes, the forepart gages I45 and the rear part gages I43 are adjustabletoward and from the rolls, and at the same time, toward and from eachother.- Whenever the forepart gages are adjusted toward or from therolls, the rear part gages are also adjusted toward or from the rollsbut to a lessextent. These adjustments in unison are caused by swinginga bell-crank lever I41 (Figs. 3 and 6) about a stationary pivot I49.Pivoted near the outer end of the lever I41 about a horizontal pivot I5Iis a locking latch I53 normally held by'a spring I55 (Fig. 7)inengagement with one or another of notches (Fig. 3 formed in the edgeof a stationary scale-plate I51 the alternate notches being numberedfrom 2 to ID to indicate sizes of sole blanks. -t will be understoodthat the bell-crank lever I 31 is held f rom, movement as long as thelatch I53 engages a notch in the plate I51 but may be freed bydepressing the handle of the latch. Pivoted to the short arm of thebell-crank lever I41 (Figs. 3, 6-) at I59 is one end of a link IIiI, theother end of which is pivoted at I62 to the member I33 so that, when thebell-crank lever I41 is swung about its pivot I49 the rear part gagesI43 are moved toward or from the splitting mechanism through a certaindistance. It will be noted that the stem of the slide bar I33 and theplate I23 are cut away to permit movement of the pivot pin I59 andcertain parts now to be described. Pivoted to the short arm of thebellcrank lever M1 at I65 is one end of a short link I61 the other endof which is pivoted at I69 to the stem of the slide bar I33.Consequently, when the bell-crank lever M1 is swung about its pivot I43the slide bar I33, and with it the forepart gages I45, are moved towardor from the splitting mechanism. Inasmuch, however, as the pivot I59 isnearer to the stationary pivot I49 than is the pivot I65, the rear partgages I43 will always bemoved a less distance than the forepart gagesI45. By this method of adjustment, assuming that the forepart gages I45have been properly adjusted toward or from each other in a mannerpresently to be described, sole blanks of different lengths and widthsmay be presented obliquely to the splitting mechanism in positions to beengaged properly by the matrix and patrix rolls.

The forepart gages I45 (Fig. 3) are adjusted equally toward and fromeach other in a path at right angles to the longitudinal axis of theslide bar I33 by swinging an arm I1I over a scale-plate I13. The bar I33(Fig. 5) is not continuous on its under side but has a channelrectangular in cross-section extending across it, said channel beingformed byshort upwardly extending portions'of the slide bar I33connected at their tops by a roof portion I33 (Fig. 3). In other words,the bar I33 has four right angle bends to form across it a channel whichis rectangular in crosssection and open on its under side. Inasmuch,however, as the slide bar rests upon the plate I23 (Fig. 5) said platecloses the channel. Resting upon the upper surface of the plate I23 and,slidable in the channel, are the stems of the two forepart gages I45, asbest shown in Fig. 4, said stems having overlapping tongues each ofwhich is provided on its upper side with a groove I15 extending acrosssaid tongue to receive respectively pins I11 and I19 carried by adownwardly extending cylindrical bearing member which projectsdownwardly from the lever I1 I. This member extends down through a holein the roof portion I33 (Fig. 3) and is held from upward movement by asuitably shaped cap-plate I8I the opposite ends of which are bent downand fastened by screws I83 to said roof portion I33. The arm I1I (Fig.5) at its outer end carries a small spring-pressed catch I85 which mayenter any one of a. series of small spaced depressions in thescale-plate I13 to hold the arm in adjusted position.

Referring to Fig. 7, it will be understood that the sole blank passesover the knife and the insole beneath the knife. In an ordinarysplitting machine, the part which passes beneath the knife is a piece ofwaste leather and is allowed to drop into a receptacle or upon thefloor. In the present machine, the piece which passes beneath the knifeis a finished piece of work, namely the insole. In order to guide thisinsole into a position behind the rolls in which it is accessible to theoperator so that hemay reach over and remove the finished insoles andoutsoles at the end of the splitting operation, there is provided achute I81, only a portion of which is shown in Fig. 7, which extendsfirst downwardly, as shown in the figure, and then upwardly behind therolls. When the splitting operation has been finished, the operator mayreach over the rolls, grasp the toe ends of the two sole blanks andtheir complementary insoles and remove them from the machine.

The operation of the machine is as follows. Matrices and patrices of thedesired shape having been provided on the two rolls, and the forepartgages and rear part gages having been properly adjusted for width andsize, the operator depresses the treadle 81 (Fig. 2) to pull down thelower roll, and presents the sole blanks obliquely to the roll, as shownin Fig. 3, with their toe ends against the stop 83 (Fig. 7). Havingproperly presented the sole blanks, he releases the treadle 81 and thendepresses and releases the treadle 39. Through the mechanism which hasbeen described, the rolls make two revolutions and come to rest. Duringthe first revolution, the forward portions of the blanks are distortedand split. During the second revolution, the rear portions of the soleblanks are split without being distorted, with the result that theinsole and the outsole of Figs. 8 and 9 are produced and carried into aposition at the rear of the rolls where they may be picked up in pairsand removed from the machine.

The construction whereby the removable section of a roll is detachablyheld in place by a locking pin which passes through a bore in the rollshaft and through a bore in a member carried by the section, and theconstruction whereby the blank, prior to being split, is placed with itsleading edge against a gage on the matrix roll and is properlypositioned with respect to the matrix are not claimed herein, but formthe subject-matter of certain claims of application Serial No. 13,716,filed March 29, 1935, in the name of Charles E. Hood.

Although the invention has been set forth with reference to a particularmachine, it will be understood that the invention in its machine aspectis not limited in the scope of its application to the particular machinewhich has been shown and described.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A machine for splitting a portion of a blank while maintaining saidportion distorted and for splitting a remaining portion while saidremaining portion is undistorted, having in combination, splittingmechanism including a knife and a pair of rolls one of which has amatrix and a smooth portion at one side of the matrix and is of adiameter such that the distance around its periphery is less than thelength of the blank to be split, means for imparting a plurality ofrevolutions to the matrix roll for each splitting operation, and meansfor causing the matrix to en gage the blank during one of therevolutions of the matrix roll and the smooth portion to engage theblank during another revolution.

2. A machine for splitting a .sole blank into an insole having anopening in its forepart and an outsole having a corresponding projectionon its forepart having, in combination, splitting mechanism including aknife and a pair of rolls one of which has a matrix and a smooth portionat one side of the matrix and is of a diameter such that the distancearound its periphery is less than the length of the blank to be split,means for imparting a plurality of revolutions to the matrix roll foreach splitting operation, and means for causing the matrix to engage theforepart of the blank during one of the revolutions of the matrix rolland the smooth portion to engage the blank during another revolution.

3. A machine for splitting a sole blank into an insole having an openingin its forepart and an outsole having in its forepart a projectioncorresponding to said opening having, in co-mbination, a knife, a pairof rolls having respectively a matrix and a cooperating patrix andsmooth portions alongside said matrix and patrix, means for impartingtwo revolutions to the rolls for each splitting operation, and means forcausing a the matrix and patrix to engage the blank during onerevolution only.

4. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a knife, apair of rolls one of which has a matrix and a smooth portion and is of a1 diameter such that the distance around its periphery is less than thelength of a blank which is to be split, and means for rotating the rollsand for imparting to the matrix roll a plurality of revolutions for eachsplitting operation whereby a blank may be presented obliquely to therolls in such manner that the matrix engages the blank during onerevolution only of the matrix roll.

5. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a knife, apair of rolls one of which has a matrix and a smooth portion and is of adiameter such that the distance around its periphery is less than thelength of a blank which is to be split, means for rotating the rolls andfor imparting to the matrix roll a plurality of revolutions for eachsplitting operation, and means for presenting a blank to the rolls withits longitudinal axis at such an angle to the bite of the rolls that theblank is engaged by the 4 matrix during one only of the revolutions andis engage-d by the smooth portion of the matrix roll during anotherrevolution.

6. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a knife, apair of rolls one of which has a matrix and a smooth portion and is of adiameter such that the distance around its periphery is less than thelength of a blank which is to be split, means for rotating the rolls andfor imparting to the matrix roll a plurality of revolutions for eachsplitting operation, and means for presenting a blank to the rolls withits longitudinal axis at such an angle to the bite of the rolls that theblank is engaged by the matrix during one only of the revolutions and isengaged by the smooth portion of the matrix roll during a subsequentrevolution.

'7. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a knife, apair of rolls one of which has a matrix and a smooth portion. said rollsbeing of a diameter such that the distance around the periphery ofeither of them is less than the length of a blank to be split, means forimparting a plurality of revolutions to the rolls for each splittingoperation, and means for presenting a blank to the rolls with itslongitudinal axis at such an angle to the bite of the rolls that thematrix engages the blank during one only of the revolutions.

8. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a knife, apair of rolls one of which has a matrix and a smooth portion at one sideof the matrix, means for rotating the rolls and for imparting aplurality of revolutions to the matrix roll for each splittingoperation, and means for presenting a blank to the rolls with itslongitudinal axis oblique to the bite of the rolls.

9. A machine of the class described, having in combination, a knife, amatrix roll, a cooperating patrix roll, said rolls having smoothportions at one side of their matrix and patrix respectively, thediameter of each roll being such that the distance around its peripheryis less than the length of a blank to be split, means for imparting tothe rolls a plurality of revolutions for each splitting operation, andmeans for presenting a blank to the rolls with its longitudinal axis atsuch an angle to the bite of the rolls that the matrix and patrix engagethe blank during one revolution only of the rolls.

10. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a knife, apair of rolls one of which is a matrix roll and has projecting from itsperiphery adjacent to the matrix a gage, means for rotating the rollsand for bringing them to rest always in the same positions with the gageextending from the matrix roll toward the other roll near the bite ofthe rolls, and operator-controlled means for separating the rolls topermit presentation of a blank to be split with one end against the gagepreparatory to imparting rotation to the rolls.

11. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a knife, apair of rolls one of which is a matrix roll and has projecting from itsperiphery adjacent to the matrix a gage, means for rotating the rollsand for bringing them to rest always in the same positions with the gageextending from the matrix roll toward the other roll near the bite ofthe rolls, and operator-controlled means for moving said other roll awayfrom the matrix roll to permit presentation of a blank to be split withone end against the gage preparatory to imparting rotation to the rolls.

12. A machine for splitting sole blanks having, in combination, a.knife, a pair of rolls one of which is a matrix roll, and means forpresenting sole blanks two at a time to said rolls, said meanscomprising forepart and rear part gages for each sole blank, theforepart gagesbeing nearer to each other than the. rear part gages sothat the sole blanks are presented obliquely to the rolls with theirlongitudinal axes converging toward the rolls.

13. A machine for splitting sole blanks having, in combination, a knife,a pair of rolls one of which is a. matrix roll, and means for presentingsole blanks two at a time obliquely to said rolls, said means comprisingforepart and rear part gages for each sole blank, and means foradjusting the forepart gages and the rear part gages toward and from therolls through different distances.

14. A machine for splitting sole blanks having, in combination, a knife,a pair of rolls one of which is a matrix roll, and means for presentingsole blanks two at a time obliquely to said rolls, said means comprisingforepart and rear part gages for each sole blank, and means foradjusting the forepart gages and the rear part gages in unison towardand from the rolls through different distances.

15. A machine for splitting sole blanks having, in combination, a knife,a pair of rolls one of which is a matrix roll, and means for presentingsole blanks obliquely to said rolls, said means comprising forepart andrear part gages for each sole blank mounted for adjustment toward and.from the rolls, and a single member manipulation of which effects suchadjustment and at the same time varies the distance between the forepartand the rear part gages.

16. A machine for splitting sole blanks having, in combination, a knife,a pair of rolls one of which has two matrices and has a diameter suchthat the distance around its periphery is less than the length of thesole blanks to be split, means for rotating the rolls and for impartingtwo revolutions to the matrix roll for each splitting operation, andmeans for presenting two sole blanks obliquely to the rolls in suchmanner that each matrix engages a blank during one revolution only ofthe matrix roll.

17. A machine for splitting sole blanks having, in combination, a knife,a pair of rolls one of which has two matrices and has a diameter suchthat the distance around its periphery is less than the length of thesole blanks to be split, means for rotating the rolls and for impartingtwo revolutions to the matrix roll for each splitting operation, andmeans forpresenting two sole blanks obliquely to the rolls in suchmanner that each matrix engages a blank during one revolution only ofthe matrix roll, said means comprising two forepart gages adjustabletoward and from each other as Well as toward and from the rolls, and apair of rear part gages adjustable toward and from the rolls.

18. A roll for a splitting machine comprising a main part and aremovable section, said removable section being in the form of acylindrical shell, a pin carried by the shell and extending inwardlythereof, said pin having near its inner end a hole which extendsobliquely outward considered in a direction from the. axis of thesection to the periphery thereof, and a spring-pressed locking pinhaving a conical end adapted to enter the hole.

19. A patrix roll for a splitting machine having a patrix comprisingpins extending from the periphery of the roll arranged to outline thedesired contour of the patrix.

20. A machine for splitting a sole-shaped blank into an insole and anoutsole having, in combination, a knife, upper and lower rolls forfeeding the blank to the knife, the construction and arrangement beingsuch that the sole passes over the knife and the insole beneath theknife, and guiding means for directing the insole toward the sole into aposition in which the operator may grasp the two articles at the sametime and remove them from the machine.

WILLIAM D. THOMAS.

CERTIFICATE or CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,053,304. I September 8, 1956.

WILLIAM D. THOMAS.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1,second column, line 53, for the word "adjustable" read identical; andthat the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction thereinthat the same may conform to the record of the case in the PatentOffice.

Signed and sealed this 5th day of January, A. D. 1957.

Henry Van Arsdaie (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

